2 Strict Owner
2 Strict Owner
Arnav liked the house very much, but his strict owner made him uncomfortable. She looked beautiful even in a simple attire. She would be more beautiful if she smiled, but nope. It seemed she had been made an oath not to smile. But why did he think that she intentionally made a strict face, and what she showed was a fake? Why was she alone? Didn't she have anyone for herself? He heard a knock on the door. He sat on the cot and saw Khushi peeping.
"Do you know cooking?" She asked.
"Jee... I can manage."
"Mmm... there is a Mess. You can get food there, but you should book in advance."
"No, no... I can't eat outside. It won't be fine for my budget..."
"It's your wish. But you should buy vessels to cook."
"I already have... my mother gave me." He showed a big-sized bag, made of hard cloth.
"Oh... Water will be available only in the morning, until 9:30. Finish all your work before that. Or else, you should go to the street pump to get water. Store the water when it's available."
"Oh, my God..." he was shocked.
"Whaaat?"
"Should I buy a drum for water storage? How much money should I spend?" he asked, horrified.
"No need. There is a drum in the washroom. Use it."
"Thank God..." he sighed.
"I have never seen a stinter like you. Without buying any needy things, how could you live?"
"What to do? Is it easy to earn money or what? My mother asked me to save money for my marriage."
"Don't know who is going to be trapped to him in the name of marriage..." Khushi murmured, but it was not inaudible.
"I will find a girl who runs a family on my earnings..." he replied.
"What's your salary?"
"A man should not be asked about his salary..."
"Mmm..." Khushi was about to leave, but she stopped, hearing,
"Wait, wait..."
Khushi looked at him.
"My salary is twenty-five thousand..."
"You were not ready to tell me that...?"
"I told you about my salary because you may tell me if you know any girl who meets my expectations."
"Oh... your salary is twenty-five thousand. Rent is ten thousand. Do you think you can run a family with just fifteen thousand in Delhi?"
"Of course, if I get a responsible girl as my wife."
"Do one thing. Search for such a girl in your village. You may get there. Because the more I know, such kind of girls have died in the nineteenth century itself."
"But YOU are running a family with a very low income..."
Khushi looked at him, jerking.
"How do you do that? I will prepare my wife with your ideas if you tell me." He asked seriously.
"Bring your wife. I will teach her..." she said sarcastically.
"Thank you, ji..." Arnav said sincerely.
Khushi left the place. Arnav changed his dress and checked the house. He arranged the things and came out with the bag. Locking the door, he went to the shop to buy the needed things.
Everyone's eyes were on Arnav. After all, he was a new face to the area. He didn't give heed to them and came to the nearby shop. He gave the shopkeeper a list. He gave them one by one, while asking,
"Who are you? You seem new to this area..."
"Yes, I'm from Rampur. Paying guest at Khushiji's house."
"Khushiji's house?"
"Yes, why?"
"How did she give you the house?"
Arnav was silent.
"She is very strict. Talk to her carefully. She will be harsh always..."
"Jithendarji also said the same."
"Oh, did Jithendarji recommend?"
"Ji..."
"That's why Khushiji gave you her house..."
"Maybe..."
"Not maybe... must be..."
"I see... how much?"
"Four hundred fifty-one..."
"Whaaat? What did I buy that you are asking this much money?"
"Do you want it or not?"
"I will spend a whole month with this money in our village..." Arnav murmured.
"Then, you should have been in your village..."
"It seems that's what's going to happen finally." He walked, taking the bag, murmuring.
The shopkeeper looked at him weirdly.
When Arnav came home, he saw a woman and a girl entering the next house. The girl saw him and stood with an expression on her face that was unbelievable. Without looking at her, Arnav went to his portion, as Khushi's warning echoed in his ear.
Khushi came out of the house and saw the girl. She ran to Khushi and asked,
"Khushi, who is he?"
"Paying guest..." she said rigidly.
"Is his wife with him?"
"He is not married..."
"I wonder... how did you give him the house?"
"I gave him the house, because I too have a stomach. I too feel hungry..." she said harshly.
Without minding about it, she said,
"He is looking good... isn't he?"
"Shut up and do your work. Or, else, I won't be good..."
The girl went to her portion. She noticed Khushi going to her portion. She rushed to Arnav's portion and knocked on the door. Arnav was stunned to see the girl.
"Hi, I'm Akshaya, Khushi's sister, living in the next house," she introduced herself.
Arnav frowned. If she were Khushi's sister, why was she in the next house?
"Where are you from?" Akshaya asked.
"Rampur..."
"Are you studying?"
"No. I'm a call taxi driver."
"Oh, that's nice. How much are you earning?"
"Twenty-five thousand..."
"Wow... really?"
"Mmm..."
"If you want anything, ask me. I will give you." She said cheesy.
"Please leave. If Khushiji sees me talking to you, she will ask me to vacate the house." Arnav said, horrified.
"She is always like that. She won't use the chance and won't let anyone use it..." Akshaya left the place mumbling.
Arnav sighed in relief.
"Thank God, she left..." he went to the kitchen to store the items he bought from the shop.
He heard a knock on the door again. He sighed and came out. He saw Khushi standing.
"Why did she come here?" she asked.
It seemed she had seen her coming here.
"You mean, Akshaya?"
"How did you know her name?" she asked, shockingly.
"She said."
"Have you forgotten what I said?"
"No, not at all... that's why I pleaded with her to leave. Then only she left."
"Keep your distance from her... ok?" Khushi took a step to leave.
"She said, she is your sister. If she is your sister, why are you living separately?"
"She is not my sister..." Khushi said and left.
Arnav stood in confusion. Akshaya said that she was Khushi's sister. And Khushi said she was not her sister. Actually, who was Akshaya to Khushi?
Taking a bucket, Arnav went to the street-side pump to get water. He saw Akshaya also coming with a bucket. He pumped, not looking at her.
"You should fill water when it comes..." she said.
"I don't talk to lairs..." Arnav said.
"When did I lie?"
"Why did you say you are Khushiji's sister?"
"It's because I'm Khushi's sister..."
"But she said you are not..."
"She is like that... she won't accept me as her sister."
"Why?"
"Our Dada has two wives. I'm the second wife's son's daughter. She doesn't like us. She has jealousy of me."
"Why?"
"It's because I'm more beautiful than her."
Arnav wanted to laugh, but controlled himself because Akshaya didn't look better than Khushi. And, he understood that it was not Khushi but Akshya who was jealous.
To be continued...
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